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I've noticed in my area at Walmart, grocery stores etc more & more self check outs and less human checkers.
I refuse to use them as it is putting someone out of work and the cost savings is NOT being passed on to the consumers
So..self check outs...love them or hate them
I have mixed feelings about them. Certainly see your point and agree with it. Selfishly speaking, though, I'd rather get out of there quickly if I have up to about 10 items. Kmart here was one of the pioneers in installing them , but ended up closing them... supposedly because of theft problems. I've seen some self-help machines I'll never touch (not for groceries). I'm not gonna read lengthy instructions and inconvenience myself because somebody wants to save on labor.
I work at a Lowe's Home Improvement store about two hours northwest of New York City, and we actually have one cashier dedicated exclusively to oversee our four self-check-out registers because it seems like 1/2 of our customers have some sort of problem using them. It seems like a hindrance to me more than anything, and it's nearly impossible to ensure that customers are being honest. What's to stop someone who has two PVC fittings for their pipe to scan one and then put both in the shopping bag?
I work at a Lowe's Home Improvement store about two hours northwest of New York City, and we actually have one cashier dedicated exclusively to oversee our four self-check-out registers because it seems like 1/2 of our customers have some sort of problem using them. It seems like a hindrance to me more than anything, and it's nearly impossible to ensure that customers are being honest. What's to stop someone who has two PVC fittings for their pipe to scan one and then put both in the shopping bag?
Yeah, it's sort of like the honor system when you buy a candy bar and put your dollar in the box.
Yeah, it's sort of like the honor system when you buy a candy bar and put your dollar in the box.
We still have rural farmers' stands like this in rural parts of PA. 99% of folks appreciate the hard work that these farmers endure to bring them this fresh produce and leave them money for the food they take, but I vividly remember a few years ago when two women in an SUV were caught on a hidden camera in my area swiping the collection jar from the stand. Some people have no conscience! I myself am happy when I hear that milk prices increase because I know that dairy farmers around here can barely make ends meat the way it is, hence why so many farms in PA are now becoming McMansion developments for NJ transplants.
This self checkout is all about decreasing costs and increasing profits. I don't for a minute believe that reduced costs to the store will be passed along to the shopper. I refuse to use them, even if it takes me more time. If it keeps one more person employed, it's worth my little sacrifice of time.
They're great if you're just picking up a few things. Somebody's almost always there tending to problems people have, so it's not really putting anyone out of work. There are still the same amount of cashiers in the regular lines (unless it's the dead of night at a 24-hour store).
If it was that much of a threat to anyone's jobs you wouldn't see them in union stores. I don't use them all the time, but sometimes. Often depends on how many people are in line at the self-checkout vs. the regular lines.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
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There is a new technology that will soon render ALL checkouts obsolete. It is called RFID and there will be little tags that transmit data. All you do is push the bascart into the scanning device and it rings up everything in the basket without you having to remove anything from it. Then you just scan your coupons and credit card and you are on your way in less than a minute! No more lines at the store!
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machines I'll never touch (not for groceries). I'm not gonna read lengthy instructions and inconvenience myself because somebody wants to save on labor.
I myself am happy when I hear that milk prices increase because I know that dairy farmers around here can barely make ends meat the way it is, hence why so many farms in PA are now becoming McMansion developments for NJ transplants. 
